Thought I would share an idea for mounting the transponder antenna up front. Like many 8 builders I struggled with placement of this antenna so as to keep the proper distance from com and adsb antennas, and also wanted to keep the xpdr cable run to a minimum. Problem is that pesky false floor.
So I cut a 2" hole to access the bottom skin from inside, mounted the antenna, and then finished it off with a cover plate held on by #8 nut plates fastened with flush mount pop rivets.
I did the installation on the right side of the plane since I did not extend the forward baggage compartment to the floor, but looking at the plans, I think the concept would work on 'normal' 8's and 8A's on the left side provided you can avoid the fuel plumbing. I found this antenna mounting location to work really well on my 9.
So I cut a 2" hole to access the bottom skin from inside, mounted the antenna, and then finished it off with a cover plate held on by #8 nut plates fastened with flush mount pop rivets.
I did the installation on the right side of the plane since I did not extend the forward baggage compartment to the floor, but looking at the plans, I think the concept would work on 'normal' 8's and 8A's on the left side provided you can avoid the fuel plumbing. I found this antenna mounting location to work really well on my 9.
![sept13b.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1182.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fx441%2Fspofahl%2Fsept13b.jpg&hash=79cc2da53b9d4f42e3b1cbec73575dc5)
![sept13.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1182.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fx441%2Fspofahl%2Fsept13.jpg&hash=06e199c530172c10019c526a23e67d48)
![sept13a.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1182.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fx441%2Fspofahl%2Fsept13a.jpg&hash=83a177399a028ca58c34fb7127bf83aa)